Annah Rais Bidayuh Longhouse

Last post from the Kuching Season 1 Project Alpha blogger trip! This time we headed to a longhouse in Annah Rais – I’m familiar with this area, there’s a hot spring in Annah Rais which took us ages to find last time we were there. Here I present to you Aud’s tulan face – she doesn’t take very kindly to people waking her up (or the sun either). >.<

What do you do when you go to a longhouse? Why, my dear friends, you indulge in the hospitality of the local folks by drinking some tuak (rice wine). It’s also for sale for RM 10 per bottle. I drank most of the gratis tuak and bought a bottle so that everyone can have a taste and even lugged it to the bus (but finished it before I got to Kuching).

Old skool kettle for…boiling coffee or something.

We Maoris, we once were warriors – headhunting and shit like that.

I met this lady who has a husband working for PDRM. I instantly sat down and helped her peel shrimps while talking with her, much to Aud’s amusement. She knows Inspector K, MK, Sargeant AD from Narcotics too! Good thing she didn’t ask me how I knew them. ;)

…and what longhouse visit would be complete without an old woman chewing betel nut?

i stil remember ur annah rais post…i thot u were wrong that time untill end of the day both road can be used to go thre coz i used the opposite road from what u post… ;)
u look like a penan in bidayuh house…hehe

thomas: Yeah, the modern longhouses does not have any human skulls…looks like a normal house for all intents and purposes. This one still has skulls but it’s pretty modern as well. :)
ahlost: The hot springs? It’s fun but very hard to find. It took us two weekends to find (first weekend got stuck in a gravel road). :)
Worth it though, quite a nice and secluded hot spring. :)
ah nel: Yeah, you can get there from the road we took too. However, be careful of the small timber gravel roads, they can be misleading and once you get in, it’s damn hard to get out coz it’s meant for huge vehicles – potholes and ditches all over. :)
Eriku: Yeah, pretty nice tuak they have, sweet but with a lower alcohol content compared to Iban tuak. :)
Michelle Chin: Hmm…it tastes sweet and sour, like white wine gone bad. ;)
Honest, that’s how it tastes like. Less acidic than regular white wine though.
Roland: Haha! It was considered a very cool haircut during Temmenggong Jugah’s time. ;)
ciki: The trick is to get a bottle and drink it while you’re walking about. Drinking and walking, beats drink driving any day. ;)

HB – Greetings from Akron, Ohio, USA. Found sixth seal on internetaccident and love your style. Have become fascinated with your writing and reviews. I see a lot in common with you despite my overwhelming lack of traveling.
Keep up the good work, best wishes.
Paul

Tuak = White wine gone bad?? LOL True to a certain extent.
I have once tasted a premium tuak, according to the head of the rumah panjang, it was not sweet at all. He told me that is how a really good tuak is supposed to taste like. Hmmm… true?

rocket: Haha! You think too much of me mate. :)
Well, you can always go for the classic flowers + present or something offbeat. ;)
Paul: Hello Paul! Thanks for dropping by and the kind comments. :)
Hope you enjoy reading! Cheers!
Michelle Chin: Heh! I know it’s supposed to taste that way so it’s not that bad. :)
fish fish: Yeah, if it’s not fermented with honey, some has really sour notes and a taste that would be best described as “weird”. ;)
eiling: Yeah, the natives used to be headhunters! :)
Charles: Haha! Ya like her BBM says “busy being cute”. :)